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Pep Guardiola has hailed Raheem Sterling as an "incredible human being" for confronting the issue of racism in football.

Sterling was subjected to alleged racial abuse during Manchester City's Premier League defeat at Chelsea on Saturday.

The player later issued a statement accusing the media of fuelling racism in the way it reports certain stories about black players.

Speaking for the first time since, City manager Guardiola said: "I was concerned with what happened but he made a statement on Instagram and was quite clear about his thoughts.

Credit: PA

"He's an incredible person, an incredible human being.

"It's tough in the 21st century to still be in this position, to have problems with diversity. We have to be better, everyone."

Guardiola believes racism is a deep problem in society, of which football is reflective, and it must be combated.

Speaking at a press conference, Guardiola said: "It's everywhere, racism is everywhere. People focus on football but it's not just in football. You'd think in football we'd be safe but racism is everywhere.

Guardiola spoke about wider issues outside football in his press conference. Credit: PA

"What happens today - how we treat immigrants and refugees, when once in our lives our grandfathers were refugees. It's everywhere. That's why we have to fight every day.

"We have to fight for human rights to make a better society for the future. Today it's dangerous, not just in England, all across Europe.

"The message for the politicians is for them to be tough on human rights and we have to defend democracy in the best way."